Checkrein



(No Model.)

LG. & G. L. SPRAGUE & J. CARPENTER.

GHEGKREIN.

Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

b fil emrag a UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS G. SPRAGUE, GEORGE L. SPRAGUE, AND JOHN CARPENTER, OF HENDERSON, NEW YORK.

CHECKREIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,055, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed July 22, 1889. Serial No. 318,214. (No model.)

To al whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, LEWIS Gr. SPRAGUE, GEORGE L. SPRAGUE, and JOHN CARPENTER, of Henderson, county of Jefferson, in the State of New York, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oheckreins, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan showing the checkhook and the connections between it and the driving-reins, showing the clasp in the end elevation and the reins in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the bit-ring, the driving-reins, the check-hook, and the connection between the check-hook and the reins. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the rein-clasp when made from a single piece of wire holding the rein. Fig. at is a like view of the same open without the rein. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same clasping a rein. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same open.

Our invention relates to the construction of harnesses, and particularly to that portion between the check-hook upon the saddle and between the line-ring thereon and the bit, and to connections, rigid or adjustable, between the driving-reins and the check-hook, and to supports for supporting the driving-reins be tween the saddle and the bit and preventing their sagging and catching under the thill, neck-yoke, or pole.

The object of our invention is to relieve the horse from the tension of the ordinary checkrein with all the discomforts attending the use thereof, whether an ordinary checkrein or the horse-killing overdraw-check, by providing a substitute for the checkrein which will indirectly operate partially as a checkrein-that is to say, will hold the head of the horse in a natural easy position without any discomfort to the horse, and which at the same time will operate as a support to the reins between the line ring upon the saddle and the bit and prevent its sagging and catching under the thill, neck-yoke, or pole, and will at the same time permit the head of the horse to be turned sidewise, and at the same time will further maintain a substantially taut rein at all times between the saddle and the bit, and will, furthermore, prevent the horse from jerking the reins, especiallyif the horse is addicted to hogging.

Our invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in the claim annexed.

It is constructed as follows:

A is the back-band or saddle, provided with check-hooks 1 and line-ring or terret 2, which are of any ordinary construction. Bis the driving-rein passing through the t-erret and connected to the bit-ring 3.

C is an adjustable clasp adapted to be set at any desired point upon the driving-rein between the terret and the bit-ring and to grip the rein, so that it will not slip thereon. This clasp is shown as of two constructions; but we do not limit ourselves to either one of them, these two being shown here as illustratin g two of the many kinds of clasps which can be used in this connection and adapted to grip or be otherwise connected to the rein adj ustably.

The clasp shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is con structed from sheet metal bent upon itself to form a rectangular or substantially rectangular opening in the lower part and-to form an eye in the upper part to receive a link or ring 4.

5 is a thumb screw or other means for drawing the sides together and causing them to grip the rein between them at any point thereon desired.

In Fig. 3 the clasp is constructed from a single piece of wire bent at one end to form an eye or ring 6, then extending backward and bent to form the angle 7, and thence forward, and at the front end bent to form another eye or ring 8, at the back end of which aturn is taken at 9 aroundthe wire, and beyond that the free end, standing at substantiallya right angle to the eye 8, is bent to form a hook 10, thus creating between the hook 10 and the angle 7 a tapering recess when the clasp is 9 sides of the clasps together upon the rein, and this clasp can be adjusted wherever desired on the rein.

D is the connection between the check hook and the bit-rein, consisting of a strip or band of leather provided with hooks or snaps 11 or their equivalents upon its ends, which ends are connected to the ring 4 in Fig. 2 or through both the rings or eyes 6 and S in the Fig. 3 construction. This strip or band of leather 2 is passed through the check-hook directly, or is connected thereto by an ordinary swivel 13, the leather passing loosely through an eye 1% upon the swivel.

It will be observed that the connection D, in conjunction with that part of the rein forward of the clasp, operates indirectly as a cheeln'eimwithout any connection to the headstall, by means of a gag-runner or otherwise, and that while the horse is prevented from throwing his nose forward to any extent or from lowering his head to any great degree his head will maintain a natural easy position. It will be further observed that this connection between the reins and the checkhook will operate to support the rein against sagging and the trouble and inconvenience occasioned by the rein catching, as aforesaid; that the rein thus supported will always be substantially taut between the saddle and the bit; that the use of this connection will permit a free use of the reins when driving and will permit them to be drawn back ward to control a fractious horse. It will be further observed that we can use a strap (shown in dotted lines at 15) connected at its ends to the clasps on the reins and passing upward over the shoulders of the horse to furnish additional support, if desired, to the reins.

It will be seen thatthe clasp shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 operates to clasp and grip the rein, which is inserted between the arms, and then the upper arm (in the drawings) is forced and sprung down until the shank adjacent to the eye (3 can be passed under the hook 10, locking the arms together with the rein between them, and the book 1 1 will pass through both eyes 6 and 8.

\Vhat we claim is- The combination, with the driving-reins, of a spring-clasp embracing each rein and adjustable thereon, consisting of side bars rigidly connected at one end and detachabl y at the other and having an eye upon the upper end, a check-hook, and a checkrcin passing over the check-hook and having its ends detachably connected to the clasp, as set forth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 10th day of July, 1889.

LEWIS G. SPRAGUE. GEORGE L. SPRAGUE. JOIIN CARPENlEl-t. In presence of ll. P. lmmsoiv, FRANK IvEs. 

